The Braves have spent much of the season hearing the same complaint: the pitching staff isn’t good enough, especially the rotation. Given all the injuries, it’s an easy place to aim the criticism.
That concern starts with the names that were supposed to carry the load. Spencer Strider, Hurston Waldrep, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Reynaldo Lopez were all expected to be major pieces behind Chris Sale, but none will be on the postseason roster, and none made much of a dent over the course of the year.
And yet, the numbers say Atlanta’s staff has held up better than the reputation. As the season heads into its final week, the Braves own the fourth-best ERA in baseball. The rotation is sixth at 3.77, and the group has been even better since the All-Star break, posting a 3.43 ERA in the second half.
Still, the national view hasn’t matched the results. The Athletic ranked the Braves seventh among contending teams, slotting them behind the Dodgers, Yankees, Brewers, Phillies, Red Sox, and Rays.
“You’d be forgiven if you were able to name more injured Braves starters - Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, Bryce Elder and Reynaldo López - than these healthy ones. But the short-handed Braves have gotten the job done.
Chris Sale remains spectacularly effective, turning in his best ERA (2.18) and WHIP (0.994) since 2018. Did the Braves set out this season expecting to have Tyler Mahle and Martín Pérez start games in October?
They sure did not. But here we are.
If the Braves can get an early lead, they have one of the most reliable bullpens in the league, and it will only get stronger if Robert Suarez returns at full strength this week. Suarez would expand manager Walt Weiss ‘s circle of trust to include five relievers: the Dylans (lefties Lee and Dodd), the rookie (Didier Fuentes), and two qualified closers (Suarez and Raisel Iglesias).”
That’s a tough placement for a staff that has mostly done its job. Atlanta has leaned on this group for six months, and the pitching has been the steadying force for the club.
But the doubt is real, and it centers on what comes after Sale. Tyler Mahle has been dominant since the trade deadline, but October is a different animal.
Martin Perez has lived off softer contact, and it’s fair to wonder how that plays when the stakes rise. Beyond that, the Braves need to know where the innings come from if they’re forced into a long postseason push.
So while the staff has answered every challenge so far, the next one is the hardest yet. The regular season has been one thing. The playoffs will ask something else entirely.
In Other News...
Braves Wild Card Plans Just Changed With New Outfield Concern
The Braves outfield picture shifted quickly after the club brought in Lane Thomas and minor league pitcher Bailey Falter from the Royals for two minor league arms, a move meant to give Atlanta more depth heading into October. Thomas was supposed to be part of that mix right away, but a left intercostal strain suffered during batting practice has now sent him to the 10-day injured list and put his availability in doubt at exactly the wrong time.
With the Wild Card Series looming, Atlanta will have to sort out its postseason outfield plans without the player it had just added for reinforcements. Thomas is expected to miss the series, leaving the Braves to lean on other options already in the organization as they finalize a roster that looked different only a short time ago. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Bullpen Picture Just Got More Interesting In Gwinnett Finale
The Stripers season finale in Gwinnett had the kind of late movement that can make a box score feel more meaningful than the final result. Indianapolis beat Gwinnett 9-6, but the Braves Triple-A club pushed back late before giving up three runs in the ninth inning, turning what had been a tighter finish into another reminder of how fragile bullpen games can be at this time of year.
For Atlanta, the more interesting part was the collection of arms that took the mound as the organization keeps sorting through relief options. Michael Grove and Joe Jimnez were among the pitchers to get work, and James Karinchak was the one tagged with the loss after the ninth-inning swing. Games like this tend to matter beyond one afternoon in Gwinnett, especially when the bullpen picture is still being evaluated with the major league club in mind. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Still Have One Big Postseason Pitching Call To Settle
With the National League East wrapped up and a No. 3 seed in hand, the Braves can now turn fully to October planning, and most of the early outline is already in place. Chris Sale and Tyler Mahle are lined up to start the first two games of the Wild Card Series on extra rest, giving Atlanta a familiar one-two punch as the postseason begins.
The bigger question is what comes after that, if the series extends long enough to require a third game. Grant Holmes and Martn Prez are the names under consideration for that potential start, while Robert Suarez is still working back through a minor league rehab appearance and Bryce Elder is recovering from knee surgery with a possible return window that lines up with the NL Division Series. Matt Olson also added a notable regular-season milestone by joining an exclusive Braves group with multiple 40-homer seasons, a reminder that Atlanta heads into October with power in the lineup and at least one important pitching decision still hanging in the balance. [Read more 🡒]